Alabama Coal Operators' Association / Alabama Mining Institute
Records, 1908-1984.
Biography/Background:
The origin
of the Alabama Coal Operators' Association can be traced to June 1900 when
officials of several Alabama coal mining and steel companies met in Birmingham
to discuss wage-scale negotiations with coal miners organized under the United
Mine Workers (UMW). It was in 1908, however, that the association officially
organized and drafted a constitution.
In response
to mounting labor tensions, the ACOA adopted an open-shop policy and refused to
recognize the United Mine Workers. In response, the UMW called a strike. On
August 10, 1908, this strike was defeated through the intervention of Governor
B.B. Comer who forbid the union to hold meetings and ordered the state militia
to raze the mine workers' makeshift tent settlement. The ACOA also defeated the
UMW in the later strikes of 1917 and 1919 and in the strike of 1920-1921.
Aside from
its concerns with labor problems, the ACOA advocated the general interests of
the coal companies. It worked to improve mine safety, to import new technology,
and to keep tax assessments on mineral lands low. The association opposed
regulation of corporation wage-scales and commissary prices.
On October
21, 1921, the ACOA adopted a new constitution and changed its name to the
Alabama Mining Institute (AMI). While the UMW provided little resistance during
the 1920s, it organized a successful unionization drive in Alabama in 1933.
AMI's continued refusal to recognize the labor union led to another strike in
1933. The strike was resolved on March 14, 1934, with an increase in basic wages
for miners and other concessions.
With labor
tensions considerably eased after the turmoil of earlier years, the AMI turned
its attention to promoting the interests of Alabama coal mining companies. In
1992, the AMI became the Alabama Coal Association.
Scope and Content:
The
records of the Alabama Coal Operators' Association/Alabama Mining Institute
contain minutes, proceedings, publications, correspondence, the constitution,
annual reports of the Alabama Mining Institute, annual reports from the State
Inspectors of Coal Mines, and subject files. The subject files consist of
newspaper articles, speeches, reports, and pamphlets.
Guide to Collection:
File level
finding guides available in the Archives Department.
Subject Areas:
Alabama Coal Operators Association.
Coal miners
-- Alabama.
Coal mines
and mining -- Alabama -- Societies, etc.
Strikes
and lockouts -- Coal mining -- Alabama.
Labor
disputes -- Alabama.
United Mine
Workers of America.
Collection Number: 916
Size: 4 ¾ linear feet (4 boxes)
Restrictions: Standard preservation and copyright restrictions.
RA-7-10-01
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